Ju 87 stuka shot down battle of stalingrad?

[meeterhunter]

Hi,
I am looking for any information about Werknummer "2629"?
Thanks

[G.R.Morrison]

WNr.2629, J9+AL, was lost on 26.Oct. 1942 while being flown by the Staffelkapitän of the 7./St.G. 1, Hptm. Heinz Fischer and his Bordfunker, Uffz. Fritz Zethmeier.

This did not happen over Stalingrad, however, but 1,500 km to the north; east of the Pola river, and about 1 km south of the village of Strelizy. Their machine was evidently struck by a 'friendly' artillery round which severed the tail while they were orbiting the target, and crashed in a wood. Fischer received a posthumous Ritterkreuz one month later.

There is a four-page article on Fischer in Luftwaffe im Focus No.13

GRM

[meeterhunter]

Hi GRM, Wow! How much info is that! I don't mean to be nosey or anything, but do you
have all this info to hand, or is there a book that would help me with Stuka losses in Russia?
Thanks again, that's brilliant.

[G.R.Morrison]

You're welcome, happy to help when I can. It's never "nosey" to ask, none of us are born knowing this sort of thing. MANY (very many) years ago my colleague Jim Perry and I embarked on a daunting assignment - documenting every Luftwaffe machine. Using microfilm, microfiche, logbooks, photographs, published and unpublished materials, we've built an enormous db, due to our early decision to include 'everything.' MANY people have helped out along the way, some of whom post here on a regular basis.

The Stuka, so ugly it has a utilitarian beauty (?) all its own, has been of interest since childhood. At a day camp, when given materials for a colored-sand painting, I chose to do a (green) Ju 87B. I can't explain it, but there it is.

GRM

[meeterhunter]

I built an Airfix kit as a young boy, I think it was the 'inverted gull wings' that attracted me to it, a little bit different than the rest. One thing that has bamboozled me is why the landing gear wasn't retractable? ..was it for stability in the dive? If they had been retractable it might of taking it over the 300mph mark and with the possibility of evading
enemy fighters? What do I know?! ..not a lot about Stukas yet!

[G.R.Morrison]

The (inverted) gull wing allowed the landing gear to be shorter, sturdier. Most Luftwaffe types were able to operate from unimproved airfields. A retractable undercarriage mechanism adds weight and complication, which means toting less ordnance or fuel - all designs are a trade-off. Observe how many nations' aircraft from the 1930s had fixed undercarriage, and how few had retractable.

All the Stuka fliers knew they had the slowest airplane at the front, but it didn't matter. It was intended to be 'flying artillery,' and it was the job of the Bf 109s to take care of interference. The Stuka was quite maneuverable. Look for Eric "Winkle" Brown's assessment (he flew a remarkable variety -- check Wiki for the list).

You may wish to track down the recently-republished English translation of Helmut Mahlke's memoirs (he flew in the Trägergruppe, and later led the III/St.G. 1) for an early-war personal account.

GRM

[meeterhunter]

Thanks, I will try and track it down
D